Ack, these last two posts are backwards. The red shirt one should come before the morning class one.

 
Today was my first morning class. I met up with some other students who had come the time before (the b-girl like one whos name is apparently Marilyn, and Tomoko, the teacher). They went to change, and I was left in the room with just Anna-san and Maiko-san, who were streching. I felt kind of awkward just standing there. They both had their hair down. Maiko-san was wearing a black t-shirt, and Anna-san was wearing an army print wind jacket. After a while Anna-san suggested that I stretch, so I sat down in between them and tried to kind of stretch. They talked about stretching and Anna-san said that the worst thing was when you went to do a side streach, and fat got in the way, and it was like, that wasn't there last year! She said she didn't want to lose weight, she wanted to get toned. Because she said even though she danced all the time her legs were still flabby. I agreed that I wanted to get toned too. Anna-san said that I was thin, but I explained I wanted to tone because my thighs were flabby. Maiko-san told Anna-san that before went she had gone away for awhile and then she saw Anna-san again, she thought 'Anna-san's gotten really thin (garigari).' Anna said that she hadn't had a conciousness of it herself. Maiko-san said it that it was probably because Anna-san had been so on edge all the time. Maiko-san said that now she wasn't too thin anymore. Anna-san laughed, and said 'That must mean I'm living a happy life now.' Maiko-san laughed with her and they agreed that now things were stable and secure (antei). I almost felt like I shouldn't be listening to their conversation, because I knew it was about everything that happened to them at Actor's last year.
I finished my miniscule repetoire of half made up stretches. Maiko-san said that I was done quickly. I explained that I didn't really know any stretches. Anna-san said that we would do stretches then today.
Maiko-san hugged me again. It made me really happy. Especially because I assume it means she read my e-mail I sent her, thanking her for hugging me, because I've really missed that since I've come to Japan. Then she asked in cute English, 'How are you?' and I said 'Good!' and she said 'That's good!'
A lot of people came today. We warmed up (Anna-san looked so cute in her big army print wind jacket), and then did stretches, because Anna-san said that our bodies and hearts were still asleep because it was so early. She said that we should do these stretches at home too, if we could. We did some stretches. I was totally the least flexibkle person in the class. *sigh* During stretches we talked about Maiko-san's skin, which was very very nice. She said that it used to be really bad, and then she started going on television, and she thought, 'Oh now! This is really bad'. Anna-san agreed, and laughed, saying that her skin had been 'housou kinshi', not allowed to be aired (on tv). But it was really pretty now. Two of the stretches were the two person kind, so Maiko-san and Anna-san came around and pushed on people's backs. Maiko-san pushed me both times, asking if it was ok, and if I could go more, or not, or if it hurt. The second stretch I totally felt like I was going to break. But it didn't really matter because Maiko-san was pushing on me, so I still felt safe. During the next stretch,where you had to lie on your back with your feet and back up, and if yuo could, over your head, I pulled a muscle in my arm. It hurt a lot.Maiko-san and Anna-san asked if I was ok, and what I'd done to it. I said I didn't know. It hurt a lot though. Anna-san said that I needed to stretch more at home. ^^;
Then we did the Seigi no Mikata dance, frome the beginning since about 4 people didn't know it at all. Us that knew it were supposed to be the 'mihon' and show everyone. I was discussing with the woman next to me that we didn't know it so well to be a mihon, and I said we could just do it 'tekitou' (basically B.S our way through it) Anna-san who was over on the side looked over. 'Did I hear someone say 'tekitou'!?' she scolded, with a laugh. I tried to look innocent. So we did the dance, and after Anna-san asked if I had it , and i said I did.
During one of the breaks, my hairband broke, so Maiko-san lent me one of hers.
During the real dance, Anna-san will play the role of the principal. At first she was going to be a student in a sailor suit (LOL) but then she realized that the principal role was pretty muzukashii. They asked if Maiko-san would wear a sailor suit, and then she'd be like a cos-play loving mother. LOL
When class was over (we ran over time and didn't have time to cool down, because the pop kids were coming in) Maiko-san asked if I wanted to borrow her hair thing, but I gave it back to her. (Maiko-san put her hair up half way through, in her signature style with the bangs swept over her forehead. She had on red rose earrings like the necklace I used gto have that I bought in Japan in one hole, and diamond like ones in the other.

 
Today I went into the lesson room and saw a girl in a red shirt. The girl had dark brown hair pulled back in a french twist type thing, with the side pieces hanging loose over her forehead. As I looked at her, I realized that it was Maiko! It didn't hit me at first because I'm used to her being blond. But when she saw me she smiled and said 'Konnichiha', and bowed a little. I did the same. Then she went over to play with the little kids.
I didn't have a very good day recognizing people, because Anna-san was talking to Namio-kun and I thought at first that she was a student. She had her hair in a pony-tail again, and was wear a big baggy black tee-shirt. I noticed that Maiko-san is quite short. And Anna-san is a little shorter than Maiko-san. Before exercises, Anna-san announced that 'Maichin' was back. Maiko-san bowed with a little flourish. She is very dramatic and full of energy and joy. It makes sense that she is the former leader of B.B. WAVES. Today we did the second half of the Seigi no Mikata dance, because it involved Maiko-san and Namio-kun. Namio-kun had to be a salery man, and Maiko was his wife. They both got very into it, when they had to act there parts, Maiko-san pretending to clean and scream at Namio, and Namio begging for allowence. (Anna-san joined it too, and she was very into it as well. They were all so cute). They are all very emotional and open to things and just let themselves lose and have a lot of fun. They have no embaressment or self-conciousness. In Actor's speak, they set their hearts free. You could really tell that Maiko-san basically grew up in Actor's. She's got all of that, and so much joy. When we took a break, Maiko-san came over to me. 'I'm so glad we finally got to see eachother!' she gushed to me. I agreed. She asked how I was, and I said Genki, genki! She said that she had talked to Anna-san, and it turns out that the day I came to sit in was the day that she began not coming because she was sick. She apologized for worrying me, but I said it was ok. We talked about how long I would be in japan, and she asked if it was fun, and if I was lonely. I said that sometimes I was, but I had e-mail, so it was ok. She said Yoroshiku onegaishimasu, and I said it too. She said, 'Let's have a lot of fun!' Before she walked off, she put her hand on my arm and said Yoroshiku! again. She's so energetic and smily! She is also really warm, and more physical than most Japanese. Because at some point in our conversation, she put her arms around me and gave me a big hug. It was really suprising, but really nice too. Because I think that's the first time anyone's hugged me since I got to Japan.
Then we started the dance, where we have to pretend school is started, and she ran over to me, and said Ohayou! and we did a little high five thing a couple times. Maiko-san's smile just makes you smile back.
The dance was interesting, with Namio doing a lot of addlbbing (really well, he really have a sense of what type of moves go with what type of music), and whatnot, it was a lot of fun. During part of it, Anna-san and Maiko-san sang the song, so we got a little duet. LOL It made me happy though. Maiko-san sang the song on her own to, and it was that same singing instead of humming tpe of non-commital singing, but you could still tell how amazing she was. You could tell her voice was trained.
It was almost overwhelming for me to see Maiko (and Namio) and Anna-san together.
Because I love them both so much, to have both of them there...I almost didn't know where to look. LOL
Maiko-san is just as beautiful as always. At one point her hair blew over her face a little, and she looked really sexy. It's interesting, because you can really tell that she's only a year older than me. What I mean is, she's beautiful, but she definately looks her age.
When I was leaving she came out to put the broom away, so I said, Otsukare! And she said Ochukare! And smiled brightly.
She and Anna-san have such bright wonderful smiles. I think it's because they're so genuine.
And now I have to go to bed, because I will be seeing Anna-san, and maybe Maiko-san again bright and early in the morning!